The summer transfer window was unlike any other; see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn't mean the rumours won't keep coming. Here's the latest gossip and speculation.
TOP STORY: Liverpool, Barca in for Zakaria
Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria has a plethora of top clubs interested in signing him, but El Nacional indicates that his first choice would be a move to Liverpool.
Zakaria is also the subject of interest from AS Roma, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The fact the Switzerland international will be available as a free agent certainly helps to give him more options, after he has already opted not to sign a renewal with the Bundesliga side as he wants to win trophies and play in the Champions League every season.
Barcelona had been interested in the 25-year-old, having made contact with his representatives, though Barca boss Xavi Hernandez isn't completely certain of the move, especially if it means losing Frenkie de Jong.
Aside from that, Liverpool are able to offer Zakaria a far more lucrative financial package and the report adds that they are more likely to win trophies and enjoy a more solid project at this time. Therefore, Zakaria has decided to prioritise negotiations with the Premier League outfit, though he is still willing to have talks with Barcelona if things fall through in England.
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21.28 GMT: Inter Milan are keen on acquiring Matthias Ginter from Borussia Monchengladbach, according to Calciomercato.
The 27-year-old Germany defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and that has seen a number of clubs circle as they look to take advantage of the little progress made on a new deal at Borussia Park. It is reported that the Serie A club have already made contact with his agent, with talks over a pre-contract able to commence in January.
20.55 GMT: The Telegraph reports that former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has emerged as a potential candidate to take over the manager's job at Manchester United.
The Italy coach's success at Euro 2020 is reported to have impressed the Old Trafford hierarchy as they look to appoint a manager with proven calibre. And with Italy's place at the 2022 World Cup hinging on their performance in the playoffs, the Premier League side could look to tempt him to return to Manchester if he fails to guide the European champions to Qatar.
20.22 GMT: A race is heating up for the signature of Copenhagen winger Roony Bardghji, according to Ekrem Konur. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Ajax are all reported to be tracking the 16-year-old, who has been in impressive form at international level with Sweden U17s, scoring five goals in six appearances.
19.49 GMT: Ferran Torres has reached total agreement with Barcelona over personal terms, writes SPORT1.
The 21-year-old forward wants to make the switch from Manchester City to Camp Nou, with a long-term contract proposed by the Blaugrana. Despite the agreement between Barca and the player, the two clubs are still negotiating a transfer fee, with Pep Guardiola's side looking for around €70m to sanction his exit.
19.16 GMT: Alexandre Lacazette could leave Arsenal in January, with Calciomercato reporting that AC Milan are plotting a move for him in the winter transfer window. It is reported that the Serie A club are evaluating the idea of acquiring him for a cut-price transfer fee as he enters the final six months of his contract in north London.
18.43 GMT: Sport reports that Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo is attracting interest from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Chelsea both keen on his signature. The Blaugrana are looking to keep the 22-year-old in the Catalan capital beyond his contract expiry in 2023, but with clubs plotting to make a move for him in the summer, they may now need to offer him improved terms as they look to compete with the financial power of sides in England's top flight.
18.10 GMT: Deal done! Maurizio Sarri has signed new terms with Lazio that will see him remain as manager of the club until 2025, confirms Nicolo Schira. The coach was reported to be in contract talks with the Biancocelesti at the beginning of November, having only joined the club in the summer, and it looks as though those talks have advanced swiftly with both parties keen to plan a long-term project.
17.37 GMT: Burnley are preparing to lose James Tarkowski on a free transfer this summer, with reports that Sean Dyche will reject all offers for him in the January transfer window, Football Insider reports. The 29-year-old centre-back has been a key figure at Turf Moor since he joined from Brentford in 2016, but after rejecting a contract offer that would make him the highest-paid player at the club, he now looks to be headed for the exits amid interest from both Newcastle United and West Ham United.
17.04 GMT: Marseille manager Jorge Sampaoli is keen to acquire a full-back in the winter transfer market, writes RMC Sport. The Ligue 1 club are experiencing a shortage in the position, and despite considering moving Boubacar Kamara to play on either side, the OM manager has recognised his need for reinforcements there when the transfer window opens.
Speaking at his news conference on Tuesday, as quoted by RMC Sport, he said: "We need more defensive full-backs, we lack natural full-backs at these two positions."
16.30 GMT: Fabrizio Romano reports that defender Antonio Rudiger has yet to receive a suitable contract offer to extend his deal at Chelsea.
Rudiger, 28, is a free agent this summer and has Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich tracking him. However, he has been unable to agree fresh terms at Stamford Bridge.
The Germany centre-back reportedly wants around £200,000-a-week to stay, with Chelsea's latest offer only in the £140,000-a-week region.
Clubs outside England will be able to agree a pre-contract agreement with him from Jan. 1.
15.36 GMT: Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore could be available for as little as £18m in January, according to Football Insider.
Liverpool were leading the charge for Traore in the summer but were put off a move for the Spain international by Wolves' valuation of £50m.
The price to sign Traore in the January window has reportedly dropped to a mere £18m, mirroring his recent form as he has only made seven starts out of 14 games, while Wolves' financial situation means they are unable to bring in any new players without generating some money first.
15.03 GMT: The Kansas City Current have signed USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis from the North Carolina Courage.
A statement read: "North Carolina will receive defender Kiki Pickett and the Current's natural first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. In a separate transaction related to this trade, the Courage will obtain the discovery rights of Malia Berkely from the Current in exchange for the Courage's natural first round pick in the draft."
Mewis, 29, has won a World Cup, three NWSL titles, a NCAA Championship, as well as an FA Cup won during her single season with Manchester City in 2020-21.
"Sam Mewis has proven herself as one of the best soccer players in the world," said Current co-owner Angie Long. "It's not a coincidence that everywhere she's played throughout her career, titles have followed. She's a leader on and off the field and we are thrilled to have her join the Current as a key contributor to help bring NWSL Championships to Kansas City."
Mewis added: "I'm really excited to start this new chapter with Kansas City. I know how much the city has embraced our sport and I can't wait to meet the fans. I'm honored to be part of what this group is doing and I'm really looking forward to getting started with my new teammates. I have a lot of confidence in this team already and can't wait to get to work. Go Current!"
We have acquired USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis (@sammymewy) from the North Carolina Courage.
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) November 30, 2021
Details 👉 https://t.co/rGDKJV9EBm#TealRising pic.twitter.com/lDZr5mtH9u
14.50 GMT: Manchester United will give new manager Ralf Rangnick a budget for the January transfer window, despite the 63-year-old only being appointed on an interim basis.
The Daily Express is reporting that United's owners, the Glazers, will allow Rangnick to spend money in January even though he will only manage the club until the end of the season.
Rangnick has never managed in the Premier League before, having made his name in German football, and joined United from Lokomotiv Moscow where he was managing director of sport.
14.02 GMT: ICYMI - The LA Galaxy parted ways on Monday with midfielder and captain Jonathan dos Santos after five seasons.
The 31-year-old Mexico international's contract has expired and will not be renewed for the 2022 campaign.
"We thank Jonathan for his contributions to the LA Galaxy," said Galaxy president Chris Klein said in a team release. "In five seasons with the Galaxy, Jonathan was a key contributor and leader for us. We very much appreciate his work ethic, professionalism and passion during his time with our club and we wish him all the best."
Dos Santos contributed six goals and 12 assists in 103 matches (91 starts), becoming the 30th player in franchise history to appear in 100 regular-season games. He was an MLS All-Star in 2018 and 2019.
13.19 GMT: Barcelona have been trying to offload Philippe Coutinho for some time and now Sport claims they are keen to send him to Manchester United in order to land either Anthony Martial or Edinson Cavani in return.
Coutinho, 29, may be offered a new lease of life under manager Xavi but the Brazil playmaker is still earning some hefty wages and Barca need to reduce their wage bill.
United are reportedly not that interested in signing the former Liverpool midfielder and also want to keep the two players mentioned as part of the swap. So this one doesn't look like it will get off the ground.
12.44 GMT: Lille midfielder Renato Sanches has caught the eye of Newcastle, according to Calciomercato.
Sanches, 24, moved to Bayern for €35m in 2016 as a teenager but has had to rebuild his career at Ligue 1 champions Lille after falling out of favour.
The Portugal international had a brief loan spell at Swansea in 2017-18 but could be set to return to the Premier League with bottom side Newcastle.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Milan have also been linked with a move for Sanches, but after their Saudi-backed takeover, Newcastle might be able to outspend their rivals.
12.00 GMT: Lionel Messi moved from Barcelona to PSG over the summer and now has another Ballon d'Or prize. But should he?
11.11 GMT: Barcelona have dropped their interest in RB Leipzig Dani Olmo for now after making Man City forward Ferran Torres their top target, according to a report in Diario Sport.
Barca sounded out a move for forward Olmo last summer but talks have stalled in recent months as the Catalan club have focused on other options.
Mateu Alemany, Barca's director of football, was in Manchester last week, where he met with City to discuss a move for Spain international Torres. Sources told ESPN the meeting did not go well for Barca, with City reluctant to let the player leave, but talks will continue.
Torres' agent, Hector Peris, also represents Pedri and he travelled with the Barca delegation to Paris on Monday, where Pedri won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player in the world.
Barca are hamstrung in negotiations for Torres, who is open to returning to Spain, by their financial situation. With gross debt of over €1.7 billion and a LaLiga imposed spending cap of €97m for the season, it will be difficult to raise the capital to sign a player who only joined City in 2020 for €25m from Valencia.
Meanwhile, Diario ARA reports that Barca are eyeing up Manchester United's Anthony Martial if a deal for Torres proves impossible. The France striker has not held down a place in the United side this season and could be available on a short-term deal if new interim coach Ralf Rangick deems him surplus to requirements.
10.25 GMT: Manchester United fans are planning a tribute to sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sources have told ESPN'S Mark Ogden.
Supporters are planning to unveil a huge flag dedicated to Solskjaer in the Stretford End ahead of Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford on Thursday, the first home game since the Norwegian's dismissal on Nov. 21.
Sources have told ESPN that fans have approached United about the gesture and it is set to go ahead with the club's blessing.
The Premier League clash with Arsenal is also the first game since Ralf Rangnick's appointment as interim manager until the end of the season.
10.14 GMT: Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga wants out as he can't displace No. 1 Edouard Mendy.
Kepa, 27, is still the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after Chelsea paid €80m to sign him from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. But AS says that he wants to leave in January for more first-team action and could make a loan move to Serie A side Lazio.
09.26 GMT: ICYMI - Barcelona have made a move to sign Spain forward Ferran Torres but talks with Manchester City have so far proven unsuccessful, sources have told ESPN.
New coach Xavi Hernandez wants to add another attacking player to his squad in January, with ESPN reporting last week that Barca have also sounded out City's Raheem Sterling and Chelsea duo Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Barca have also made Torres one of their primary targets, having monitored him since he first broke through at Valencia. The club believe his experience in LaLiga would ease the adaption process.
Director of football Mateu Alemany and CEO Ferran Reverter were in Manchester on Friday for a meeting with City to discuss a transfer.
Sources have told ESPN that City's initial response was that they are reluctant to let go of Torres, who is expected to return from an injury at the end of the year.
Torres, 21, is understood to be open to a return to Spain, though, and sources added City could open the door to an exit should he express a desire to leave. However, they would demand over €40m for a player they initially signed for a fee of €23m from Valencia in 2020.
08.46 GMT: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes that teammates Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling are happy at the club after going through difficult spells.
Silva was open to leaving City in the summer, but with no suitable offers arriving he stayed at the club to begin his fifth season in England. He was on the bench for the opening day defeat to Tottenham but has since started every game in the league and Champions League, scoring four goals including one in the derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Sources have told ESPN that a lack of game time has also led Raheem Sterling to consider his options, but Gundogan is hopeful the pair are back to their best.
"The only thing you can do is try to support them as much as possible, to help them to train well," he said. "In our team the players know their responsibility, they know we are all professionals even though we face difficult periods in our career, we need to be able to deal with that... all of us had to do it in our careers.
"It's something you have to get used to and deal with -- it's disappointment and frustration.
"But they both feel very comfortable in the team with the players we have here. There's a lot of good friendships and I don't think it was ever an issue. The other players don't feel they have to do much, we knew they had enough quality to come back."
08.00 GMT: Manchester United announced the appointment Ralf Rangnick on Monday as the club's interim manager until the end of the season.
Rangnick, 63, has left his role as head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow and signed a six-month contract at Old Trafford.
Sources told ESPN that the German was in advanced negotiations with United and a breakthrough was reached when a consultancy role was offered as part of his move to the club.
Rangnick is expected to take charge of his first game when United host rivals Arsenal on Thursday in the Premier League, although this is subject to the finalisation of his British work permit.
He has previously managed Hannover, Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
- Marcotti: Can Rangnick fix United?
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
- Despite having the option to do so, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is "highly unlikely" to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club overseas in January, as has been reported by The Athletic. The France international is focusing on football as he looks to return from injury and is weighing up all of his options ahead of the summer, when his contract with the Red Devils ends. United have made the 28-year-old an offer, but it would "almost certainly" need to improve if he is to agree to it, the story says.
- Manchester City are working to extend Riyad Mahrez's contract, writes The Sun, with the winger's contract coming to an end in the summer of 2023. They want to have fresh terms in place by the time the Algeria international flies out to play in the African Cup of Nations in January. Though, it is added in the report that he could make an exit in the summer if a deal is not eventually agreed before the season ends, with Paris Saint-Germain keen.
- Newcastle United are set to move for Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, reports El Nacional, which adds that Real Madrid are unwilling to make a serious investment in the Dutchman due to his lack of playing time since moving to Old Trafford. While Van de Beek would like to move away from the Premier League, he is aware that he would be viewed as an important player as the Magpies look to avoid relegation. There has also been a substantial offer made to the player and to United.
- Xavi backs the idea of bringing La Masia graduate Alex Grimaldo back to Barcelona from Benfica, according to A Bola. The outlet writes that such a move is required to aid in the transition away from 32-year-old Jordi Alba as the main left-back. After Ronald Koeman had supported signing the Spaniard, Xavi has shown the same sentiment.
- Dries Mertens is ready to dedicate himself to Napoli despite receiving several proposals from MLS clubs, reports Calciomercato. With his contract ending in the summer, Napoli are considering offering the Belgian forward €2.5m-per-year, which is half of what he earns now, as they look to lower their wage bill. Despite this, Mertens is still keen to sit down and strike a deal.